Ashtray



Oct. 10, 1939. Q Q CRAWFORD 2,175,956

ASHTRAY Filed Sept. 9, 1936 will 'IIII'IM Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES ;?ATE NT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in ashtrays and more particularly to an ashtray capable of extinguishing the fire of a cigarette, or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide in an ashtray for the extinguishing of a cigarette, or the like, while at the same time facilitating the cleaning of the tray, so as to completely remove thereover the ashes in a very simple and effective manner.

Heretofore, ashtrays have been provided having a ring or annular member in which openings were formed to receive the end of the lighted cigarette, in order to extinguish the fire thereof, but these have been objectionable because the openings were located entirely within the confines of the ring in such a manner as to clog or fill the ashes in the openings and make them extremely difficult of cleaning, with the result that they would clog up and would be generally ineffective.

My present invention obviates this objection by providing openings in the adjacent faces of the tray and ring, so that upon removal of the ring from the tray only semi-circular openings are formed in each, which permit ready dusting out of the ashes and efiective cleaning of both parts in a very simple and effective manner and entirely eliminating any clogging of the openings.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an under cut inner wall for the ring which prevents the ashes from blowing out of the tray in an ordinary breeze or when the tray is standing under an electric fan.

I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of tray embodying this invention;

Fig, 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough on the line, 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view through a slightly different form of tray; and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of said modified form.

The invention utilizes a container or tray designated generally by the numeral I, which is shown as of generally oval shape, although the shape may be varied as desired. The tray I receives a ring 2, which is removably seated therein and is constructed of the same general shape and size as the inner Wall of the tray I, so as to be loosely and removably seated therein, substantially in contact with said wall. The inner portion of the tray I has upright semi-circular openings 3,

formed therein cooperating with similar upright semi-circular openings 4, formed in the periphery of the ring 2, which openings 3 and 4 provide cylindrical cavities or openings within the facing portions of the ring and tray, in order to receive ends of cigarettes, in order to snuff out the fire thereof. The ring 2 has the inner wall 5 thereof of substantially truncated conical shape, so as to be under cut or tapered generally on a bevel to prevent the ash from blowing out of the mid-portion of the tray by an ordinary breeze, such as may be produced by an electric fan.

The tray l and ring 2 may be made of other shapes than the oval design illustrated, such as round, square, or the like, and these parts may be stamped, molded, or cast, either from different types of metal, glass, porcelain, or the like, as may be desired, depending upon the ornamental effects required.

In Figs. 3 and 4., the tray and ring designated generally by the numerals 6 and 1, respectively, are shown as stamped out of sheet material in order to make the article as cheap and light in weight as may be practical and yet the ash retaining feature is improved by having a laterally offset flange 8 on the ring, which prevents the ashes from blowing out of the center thereof. In this form the side Walls of the snuff openings would be formed semi-cylindrical, as designated by the numerals 9 and It), in order to form cylindrical openings in the facing sides of the ring and tray.

When the ring is in place in the tray, it is only necessary to insert a lighted cigarette in one of the extinguishing openings in order to extinguish the fire thereof. This always leaves an accumulation of ash in the opening after the cigarette stub is removed. However, when it is desired to clean the tray, it is a very simple and easy matter to remove the ash not only from the mid-portion of the tray but also from the extinguishing opening merely by removing the ring and turning the tray upside down which is sufficient to discharge any ash that may have accumulated in the extinguishing openings. If desired, the tray may be struck with any object or on an edge of a waste container, in order to facilitate the removal of the ash, and if desired the tray and the ring may be wiped off to more effectively and completely remove any ash that may cling to the surfaces thereof. This is facilitated by the provision of the extinguishing openings in the facing sides of these two members because access thereto is easier than if the openings were located entirely within the confines of the ring.

In this way, a very simple, safe, and effective extinguishing ashtray is provided which may be cleaned effectively in the easiest possible manner.

I claim:

1. An ashtray comprising a bottom and an upstanding wall on said bottom, and an inner member removably seated on the tray for removal therefrom, said inner member having an upwardly extending external groove in the outer side thereof in position to form a snuffing opening between said member and the upstanding wall when the member is seated in the tray, said groove being open approximately uniformly throughout its length with open opposite ends for ready cleaning of the ash therefrom upon removal of the member from the tray.

2. An ashtray comprising a bottom and an upstanding side wall on said bottom, said wall having an upwardly extending groove in the inner side thereof, and an inner member removably seated on the tray for removal therefrom, said member having an upwardly extending external groove in the outer side thereof arranged in complementary relation with the first-mentioned groove to form a snuffing opening when the member is seated in the tray, the external groove in the member being of approximately uniform size throughout its length with open opposite ends for ready cleaning of the ash therefrom upon removal of the member from the tray.

CLAUDE CLEO CRAWFORD. 

